Civil Affairs Missions in Iraq

1 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Navy Lt. Pete Bingus Tamminga takes a hardy handshake and a salute from one of the children visiting from the Iraqi National Institute of Handicapped Orphans. Tamminga is a regular U.S. Navy officer assigned to the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade as their infrastructure projects manager, where he acts as a liaison for all economic construction initiatives that the brigade supports. A naval aviator by training, he said spending time with these kids has been one of the highlights in Baghdad this past year. Originally from Bozeman, Mont., and the Lexington Park, Md., area, Tamminga will return to naval aviation at NAS Fallon after his tour in Baghdad is complete. This Army Reserve brigade is predominately composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area and are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –A group shot of the children, the Iraqi volunteers and institute workers, along with the volunteer Army Reserve Soldiers of the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade. The civil affairs brigade does not have as its mandate to help orphanages, but its Reserve Soldiers from Philadelphia certainly do. All of these Reserve Soldiers say that when they return back home they plan on spreading the word to collect material for these less fortunate children in Baghdad. This Army Reserve brigade which is composed predominantly of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, is part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Col. Charles "Chuck" Wogan, deputy commanding officer for the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, clowns around with little Huda and makes her smile as Dr. Suzan Karim, a bilingual and bi-cultural advisor to the brigade looks on. Little Huda, 5 years old, is one of the many handicapped children who is both an orphan and severely disabled. Wogan, who works as a Philadelphia based IRS criminal tax attorney on his civilian side, says these events have been highlight of his tour. The 304th Civil Affairs Brigade does not have as its mandate to help orphanages, but its Reserve Soldiers from Philadelphia certainly do. Wogan's boss, Linda S. Bednarz, chief counsel for the IRS in Philadelphia, has been a key organizer stateside for collecting thousands of dollars worth of clothes, toys and school supplies for these less fortunate children. This Army Reserve brigade which is composed predominantly of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, is part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –These Army Reserve Soldiers with the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade all have one thing in common, they are all die hard Philadelphia Phillies fans. The brigade, along with its true-blue fans helped coordinate the project to have one of Camp Slayer's streets renamed to honor their team. The goal was to boost moral for the Philadelphia based unit, and more importantly to remind everyone in the Baghdad region where the World Series Champions come from. This Army Reserve brigade which is composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquarter at Fort Bragg, N.C" (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –These Army Reserve Soldiers with the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade all have one thing in common, they are all die hard Philadelphia Phillies fans. The brigade, along with its true-blue fans helped coordinate the project to have one of Camp Slayer's streets renamed to honor their team. The goal was to boost moral for the Philadelphia based unit, and more importantly to remind everyone in the Baghdad region just who won the World Series. This Army Reserve brigade which is composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquarter at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL6 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Being hundreds of miles away did not deter these die hard Philadelphia Phillies fans from having one of Camp Slayer's streets renamed to honor their team. 1st Sgt. David M. Bernosky, with the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, helped coordinate the project to boost moral for the Philadelphia based unit and to remind everyone in the Baghdad region who won the World Series. This Army Reserve brigade, composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL7 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Senior civil affairs officers from various Iraqi divisions around the country gathered at the Al Faw palace on March 12, for briefings on the Iraqi army's civil military operation's capabilities. The 304th Civil Affairs Brigade assisted the Iraqi army in hosting this event, which allowed civil military operations representatives from all over Iraq to brief the Iraqi and Multi-National Coalition forces on their projects and current state of affairs. This Army Reserve brigade, composed predominantly of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, is part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL8 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Brig. Gen. Mahmood Khaddar Ghazi, the senior Iraqi officer for civil affairs, addresses senior Iraqi civil affairs officers from various Iraqi divisions around the country at the Al Faw palace on March 12. The conference focused on the Iraqi army's civil military operation's capabilities. The 304th Civil Affairs Brigade assisted the Iraqi army in hosting this event, which allowed civil military operations representatives from all over Iraq to brief the Iraqi and Multi-National Coalition forces on their projects and current state of affairs. This Army Reserve brigade, composed predominantly of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, is part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL9 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Army Reserve Col. Daniel R. Ammerman, commander of the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, listens to an Iraqi officer lecture on his division's military operations capabilities at the Al Faw palace on March 12, 2009. The brigade assisted the Iraqi Army in hosting this event, which allowed civil military operations representatives from all over Iraq to brief the Iraqi and multi-national coalition forces on their projects and current state of affairs. This Army Reserve brigade, composed predominantly of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, is part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL10 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Army Reserve Soldiers with the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade patrol the streets of Mahawil, a city southwest of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 18. Sgt. 1st Class Daniel MacDonald, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the brigade's personal security detail scans the local market for any possible threats. MacDonald is police captain with the Philadelphia Police Department. This Army Reserve brigade, is composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, and are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL11 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Army Reserve Soldiers with the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade hone their skills at the range on March 22. The brigade's 1st Sgt., David M. Bernosky, counts the targets to determine the final qualifying scores. This Army Reserve brigade, is composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, and are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL12 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Army Reserve Soldiers with the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade patrol the streets of Mahawil, a city southwest of Baghdad, Iraq on March 18. Staff Sgt. Joseph Norcini, the assistant personal security detail non-commissioned officer in charge, scans the local market for any possible threats. This Army Reserve brigade, is composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, and are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL13 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Sgt. Ivan Cabrera, with the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, Charlie Company, talks to the teacher of a class of Iraqi boys from the Alistikrar Primary School, in Al Kut on March 5, as Iraqi interpreter Yousrha (right) watches. Cabrera, a Reserve Soldier out of Dallas, is interviewing the staff to conduct an area assessment for the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team. The Wasit PRT is somewhat unique in that it has an active participation by civil affairs Soldiers from the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade and the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, assigned to help conduct thorough area assessments to provide needed infrastructure and professional feedback to the area Provincial Reconstruction Team. These teams are spearheaded by the Department of State with support from civil affairs personnel, and are designed to empower the local Iraqi private and public sectors. Both the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade and the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion are part of the Army Reserve and are under the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL14 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Sgt. Ivan Cabrera, with the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, Charlie Company, talks to Iraqi interpreter Yousrha (left) and to Abid Al Hassan Shamkhi (center), the principal of the Alistikrar primary school for boys in Al Kut on March 5. The Reserve Soldier out of Dallas, Texas, is interviewing the staff as he conducts an area assessment for the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team. The Wasit PRT is somewhat unique in that it has an active participation by civil affairs Soldiers from the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade and the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, assigned to help conduct thorough area assessments to provide needed infrastructure and professional feedback to the area Provincial Reconstruction Team. These teams are spearheaded by the Department of State with support from civil affairs personnel, and are designed to empower the local Iraqi private and public sectors. Both the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade and the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion are part of the Army Reserve and are under the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL15 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –This Iraqi boy is beaming as he carries his brand new backpack donated as part of a comprehensive educational program by the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team at Al Kut on March 5. Elements of the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade are working closely with the local PRT to provide needed infrastructure and professional assessments of area schools and to distribute collected items. These Provincial Reconstruction Teams are spearheaded by the Department of State with support from civil affairs personnel, and are designed to empower the local Iraqi private and public sectors. The 304th Civil Affairs Brigade is an Army Reserve brigade, composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, and are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL16 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –A group photo of the Soldiers from the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade that are assisting the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team and the local school teachers and administrators for the Alistikrar primary school for boys at Al Kut on March 5. Elements of the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade are working with the local PRT to provide needed infrastructure and professional assessments of area schools and to distribute collected items. These Provincial Reconstruction Teams are spearheaded by the Department of State with support from civil affairs personnel, and are designed to empower the local Iraqi private and public sectors. The 304th Civil Affairs Brigade is an Army Reserve brigade, composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, and are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL17 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Army Reserve Maj. Marcus Snow, economic development officer for the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, is interviewed by Armed Forces Network - Iraq about his team's assistance to the Iraqi government regarding the new Iraqi Airways International Business Center at the heart of the growing Baghdad International Airport complex. Snow, an economist and financial advisor within the Philadelphia area, brought his expertise in financial development to assist with projects that would attract foreign economic investment into Iraq. He said, "the key to sustained growth is foreign investments that are beneficial for both Iraq and the investors, right now the best place for that is the airport, the gateway into Iraq." This Army Reserve brigade which is composed of Warrior citizen soldiers from the Philadelphia area, are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquarter at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL18 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Army Reserve Soldiers with the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade took a break from the Iraqi Army Civil Military Conference here on March 11, to receive support from the visiting Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders who are touring Iraq in honor of our brave service men and women. Even though most of the brigade hails from Philadelphia, and that's Eagle territory, on this day the Soldiers had nothing but gratitude for the visit and felt a special bond with Minnesota and their team. The cheerleading squad was gracious with their support and wished everyone a speeding return back home. This Army Reserve brigade, composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the "Philly" area, are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL19 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Army Reserve Maj. Marcus Snow, Economic Development officer for the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, is interviewed by Armed Forces Network - Iraq about his team's assistance to the Iraqi government regarding the new Iraqi Airways International Business Center at the heart of the growing Baghdad International Airport complex. Snow, an economist and financial advisor within the Philadelphia area, brought his expertise in financial development to assist with projects that would attract foreign economic investment into Iraq. He said "the key to sustained growth is foreign investments that are beneficial for both Iraq and the investors, right now the best place for that is the airport, the gateway into Iraq." The brigade's economic team, along with past civil affairs brigades, have been working with the Iraqi government and coalition leadership to help develop the BIAP area with three key projects: assistance with international airport certification, the creation of a business center and a convention center, and an airport hotel. To date the hotel and business center are complete, the international certification is moving along as is the convention center. This Army Reserve brigade, composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL20 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –A scenic view of the Baghdad International Airport from the top of the new Iraqi Airways International Business Center in the BIAP complex. From this view one can see the future convention center on the left and the hotel (red roofs) in the center. The area is also being developed for other investments In the future. The 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, whose Soldiers as assisting with the economic development of the area, are an Army Reserve brigade composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, and are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL21 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –A view from the courtyard area of the new Iraqi Airways International Business Center located in the heart of the Baghdad International Airport complex. The center has been open less than a month and according to Maj. Marcus Snow, the Economic Development officer for the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, occupants are already moving into the new building. The business center offers foreign business professionals an opportunity to consolidate all their needs under one roof. The center offers VOIP and video conferencing, high-speed internet, banking services, four mid-size conference rooms, translator service, office equipment, company registrations, and legal services. The 304th Civil Affairs Brigade is an Army Reserve brigade composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, and are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL22 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Mr. Abdezahara, a fisherman working for the government of Iraq, takes a break from rowing to smile for the camera before starting to fish near the Al Faw Palace on Feb. 27. The Multi-National Coalition - Iraq and its C9 Agriculture section is collaborating with the Iraqi government, and with some assistance from the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, to repopulate three specific species of fish to the southeastern marshes of Iraq. The species are the Shaboot, Bunny, and Kattan (pronounced: Sha-boot, Buun-nee, and Kat-tan). One of the few places where these 3 species are found in abundance is in and around the lake complex of the Al Faw palace on Camp Victory, Iraq. The fish are being kept at Al Suwaira in the Wasit province, once the eggs hatch and become fingerlings of about 3 inches or so, they will be transferred to the marshes. The 304th Civil Affairs Brigade is a part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL23 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Maj. Douglas B. Bathe (left), the Agricultural officer for the Multi-National Coalition - Iraq C9, and Mr. Feras M. Chabik, a Chief Fishery biologist working for the government of Iraq, take some time to pose for the camera before their fishing mission near the Al Faw Palace on Feb. 27. Bathe, an independent farmer by trade, is an Army Reserve officer originally assigned to the 351st Civil Affairs Command out of Mountain View, Calif. He hails from the town of Arroyo Grande in San Luis Opispo County, Calif. The Multi-National Coalition - Iraq and its C9 Agriculture section is collaborating with the Iraqi government, and with some assistance from the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, to repopulate three specific species of fish to the southeastern marshes of Iraq. The species are the Shaboot, Bunny, and Kattan (pronounced: Sha-boot, Buun-nee, and Kat-tan). One of the few places where these 3 species are found in abundance is in and around the lake complex of the Al Faw palace on Camp Victory, Iraq. The fish are being kept at Al Suwaira in the Wasit province, once the eggs hatch and become fingerlings of about 3 inches or so, they will be transferred to the marshes. The 304th Civil Affairs Brigade and the 351st Civil Affairs Command are a part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL24 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –Sgt. 1st Class Daniel P. MacDonald, the chief non-commissioned officer instructor, and a police captain in the 12th District with the Philadelphia Police Department, presents his department's police patch to two Iraqi national police officers at the graduation ceremony. He said he hopes for a long-term friendship and collaborative relationship between the Iraqi police and the departments around the world. The Iraqi police force is set up as a paramilitary state police force, much like the Italian Arma dei Carabinieri. MacDonald, along with Lt. Col Charles Anderson, a fellow Army Reserve member of the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, were both instrumental in developing the Civil Military Operations course for the Iraqi army. This Army Reserve brigade, composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C." (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL25 / 25Show Caption +Hide Caption –The training director for the Iraqi Counter-Insurgency Academy, Lt. Col. Ahmed, talks to the graduates of the first Iraqi Civil Military Operations Non-commissioned Officers Course on Feb. 26. Army Reserve Soldiers with the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade put together the course after their success with courses organized for Iraqi officers. Iraqi students learned basic civil military operation procedures and had to apply them through various practical exercises and briefings. Over 40 Soldiers and policemen from all regions of Iraq participated in the week-long course which culminated by the groups briefing the class and the commander on their projects. The overall observation from the students was that civil military operations is critical to combating counter insurgency, and this is only accomplished through community involvement and interaction, a new concept for the Iraqi military curriculum. This Army Reserve brigade, composed of Warrior Citizen Soldiers from the Philadelphia area, are part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. " (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez)VIEW ORIGINAL